The Future of AI in Sales and Customer Service

The Future of AI in Sales and Customer Service

Author: Chad Burmeister February 26, 2026 Duration: 33:53
Summary In this conversation, Chad Burmeister interviews Michelle Donnelly, Chief Revenue Officer at Crescendo, discussing the transformative impact of AI on customer experience. They explore how Crescendo's AI-native platform enhances customer interactions, the integration of human agents, and the efficiency gains from AI implementation. Michelle shares insights on industry applications, ethical considerations, and the future of AI in sales, emphasizing the importance of human touch in customer service. Takeaways Crescendo has achieved $100 million in AI ARR in just two years. AI chatbots can accurately handle 98% of customer inquiries. The integration of AI and human agents enhances customer experience. AI can transform customer service into a profit center. Speed and efficiency are critical in customer interactions. AI can provide insights that improve product offerings. Companies can achieve significant cost savings with AI implementation. The human touch remains essential in customer service. AI can help new sales hires become productive faster. Ethical considerations in AI deployment are crucial for customer trust. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Crescendo and AI in Customer Experience 02:49 Transforming Customer Experience with AI 06:00 Industry Applications of AI in Customer Service 10:55 The Role of AI in Enhancing Human Agents 16:26 Efficiency Gains and ROI from AI Implementation 18:43 The Future of AI in Sales and Customer Interaction 22:12 Ethical Considerations in AI Deployment 24:29 The Future of Physical AI Agents 26:57 Skills for the Future Sales Workforce

Chad Burmeister has spent his career at the forefront of sales transformation, and in The AI for Sales Podcast, he brings that experience into direct conversation with the tools reshaping the profession. This isn't about speculative futurism; it's a grounded exploration of how artificial intelligence is actively being applied to real sales challenges. Each episode delves into practical strategies, dissecting how the synergy between human intuition and machine intelligence can streamline processes, unlock insights, and ultimately close more deals. You'll hear from practitioners and innovators who are using AI to enhance everything from lead generation and conversation intelligence to pipeline management and coaching. The guiding principle here is efficiency, captured well by Dr. Joel Le Bon's observation that in sales, time kills deals, but in this arena, AI kills time. Brought to you by partners like BDR.ai, Nooks.ai, and ZoomInfo, the discussions are rooted in actionable intelligence. If you're in sales, leadership, or entrepreneurship and feel the pressure to do more with less, this podcast offers a clear-eyed look at the technologies that are becoming essential companions. Chad facilitates conversations that cut through the hype, focusing on tangible results and the creative application of these powerful tools in a modern commercial landscape.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

The AI for Sales Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Enhancing Communication and Training with AI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:56
Summary In this conversation, Chad Burmeister interviews Scott Sambucci, a startup coach and sales expert, about the role of AI in sales. They discuss Scott's background, the evolution of AI in sales, and the potential p…
AI's Role in Healthcare and Medical Analysis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:37
Summary In this podcast episode, Chad Burmeister interviews Andrew Ryan, a technology investor and entrepreneur, about the impact of AI on various aspects of business and society. They discuss the use of AI in sales, hea…
The Impact of AI on Sales and Customer Interactions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:15
Summary In this AI for Sales podcast, Chad Burmeister interviews Paul Butterfield, CEO and founder of Revenue Flywheel Group. They discuss the impact of AI on sales, the role of AI in music, the future of AI in sales, an…
Standing Out in a Crowded Market [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:35
In this podcast episode, Chad Burmeister interviews Diana Bald, the President and COO of Blue Orange Digital, a consultancy specializing in data science, machine learning, and AI. They discuss Diana's background, the bus…
The role of AI in digital marketing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:26
In this episode of the AI for Sales podcast, Chad Burmeister interviews Jason Wood, the CEO of Specificity Trading. They discuss the role of AI in digital marketing and how it can help marketers make smarter decisions. T…
Transforming Sales Revenue with FlyMSG.io featuring Mario Martinez Jr [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:06
In this episode of The AI for Sales Podcast, Chad Burmeister and Mario Martinez Jr. delve into the transformative power of AI in revolutionizing sales revenue. Mario, CEO and founder of Vengreso, introduces FlyMSG.io, an…
AI Superpowers for Sales Success with Dana and Chuck Staszkiewicz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:11
In this episode of The AI for Sales Podcast, Joe Papa, founder, and CEO of Traversity, as the host for today is joined by Dana and Chuck Staszkiewicz, co-founders of Opus and Gold's Consulting Company. Chuck and Dana sha…